What does the housing crisis look like where you live?

93,000 children in Britain are homeless, rents have shot up across the country, and we’re building less than half of the affordable homes we need. Find out how it’s looking in your area:

Sorry, we couldn't find any records for that postcode. Are you in Scotland or Wales? If so, Shelter Scotland or Shelter Cymru can give you more information.

In , households are homeless.

Yes, really. Worse still, XX of those households are families with children.

It’s getting tough to afford a home – in , house prices have risen by since 1969.

In fact, they’ve gone up % in the last three years alone.

It’s getting tough to afford a home – a person on the average wage in would have to save for years before they could buy.

Rent has gone up as well – by % in the same period.

Higher house prices mean more people have to turn to renting – so rents go up too.

Rent is getting more and more expensive too – it now takes up on average 40% of people’s incomes.

Higher house prices mean more people have to turn to renting – so rents go up as well.

There just aren’t enough affordable homes. In 2014, only were built in .

Does that sound like enough to you?

For decades, politicians have failed to tackle the problem: there just aren't enough affordable homes.

Think something has to change?

It’s time to do something about it.

Agree? Add your name now and tell politicians to build more affordable homes.

How will my signature help? +

By signing, you will be one of thousands of people coming together to demand an end to the housing crisis.

When we all speak up together, we really can change things. In just the last few weeks, we’ve saved a £74 million emergency fund for homeless families that the government planned to cut.

Better still, we’ve also got the law changed recently to end revenge evictions – meaning it’ll no longer be legal for landlords to evict tenants if they ask for repairs.

We can do the same with building more homes.

The housing crisis ends here.

Keep me updated on Shelter’s work.

Help end the housing crisis.

Linda

I used to be a nurse, then, eight years ago, I fell through a skylight and broke my spine in three places. The pain means I can’t work, so rely on housing benefit to pay my rent.

I had a fantastic flat, perfect for my needs. So when I found out I had to leave because the landlady wanted to move back in, it destroyed my world.

From watching the news I knew finding somewhere to live would be hard. But I didn’t realise how bad it would be for someone on housing benefit. Letting agents wouldn’t acknowledge me. And I couldn’t find anywhere. It felt so degrading.

I got lucky. A friend helped and I’ve found somewhere now, otherwise I don’t know what I would have done.

Politicians need to build more homes, especially social housing. It’s constantly being chipped away at, and is essential.

Read more +

It's time to do something about it

Here’s why

For decades, politicians have failed to tackle the housing crisis. It’s time this changed.

You can make sure building more affordable homes is top of their to do list.

Lou

In 2010 I split up with my husband. As he refused to leave the family home, I had to, along with our two children. This meant I wasn’t entitled to help with housing costs. And because I didn’t earn enough, my housing options were limited.

Twice in two years I’ve been given notice to leave rented accommodation because the landlord wanted the property. One landlord refused the option to end my tenancy early to secure an alternative place to live. I had to move six times in four years.

With so much of my income going on rent I found myself trapped in a tenancy, with no money to pay the rent, and my children and I ended up homeless. At this point I contacted Shelter.

How do politicians expect people to live this way?

Read more +

It's time to do something about it

Here’s why

For decades, politicians have failed to tackle the housing crisis. It’s time this changed.

You can make sure building more affordable homes is top of their to do list.

Rick

I’ve worked in charities most of my working life. Last August though, I lost my job, and soon after was evicted.

I had to sell or donate the contents of my flat. I applied for a crisis loan and bought a caravan so at least we wouldn't be living on the streets. It has no running water, no electricity, no heating.

Private rents are beyond my reach, as most landlords don’t accept housing benefit; I can’t get a job without a property and I can’t get a property without a job.

Shelter are helping me, but to the council I’m low priority; I have no health issues, but do have a dog. Twice the council have told me to get rid of my dog, but I couldn’t bear to him give up. I’ve just lost everything else I’m not going to lose him.

Read more +

It's time to do something about it

Here’s why

For decades, politicians have failed to tackle the housing crisis. It’s time this changed.

You can make sure building more affordable homes is top of their to do list.

Hadleigh

Seven years ago, my wife, our three children and I, returned to the UK.
We planned to work, save and get back on the property ladder.

However, private renting became a nightmare. We were forced to move four times. And each time we moved we had to find £2,000 or more for credit checks, deposits and rent. Having to pay this almost annually gave us no chance of saving for a home of our own.

Eventually the constant moving meant our money run out, and we had to apply for social housing.

We’ve been in temporary accommodation for six months now. We didn’t think we’d ever be in this position. We both work in OK jobs. It just shows the lack of affordable housing means homelessness can happen to anyone.

Read more +

It's time to do something about it

Here’s why

For decades, politicians have failed to tackle the housing crisis. It’s time this changed.

You can make sure building more affordable homes is top of their to do list.

We need more affordable homes.

But selling off the few we have will only make our housing crisis worse.

Sign our petition, calling on the Government to build more affordable homes, now.

How will my signature help? +

By signing, you will be one of thousands of people coming together to demand an end to the housing crisis.

When we all speak up together, we really can change things. In just the last few weeks, we’ve saved a £74 million emergency fund for homeless families that the government planned to cut.

Better still, we’ve also got the law changed recently to end revenge evictions – meaning it’ll no longer be legal for landlords to evict tenants if they ask for repairs.

We can do the same with building more homes.

The housing crisis ends here.

Keep me updated on Shelter’s work.

We need more affordable homes.

It’s time for politicians to roll up their sleeves and do something about it.

Agree? Email your parliamentary candidates now and tell them to commit to building more homes.

Keep me updated on Shelter’s work.

Read more +

Dear Candidate,

My name is , and I want to see an end to the housing crisis.

The housing crisis affects so many of us, whether we’re stuck renting in terrible conditions, struggling to pay our rent or mortgage every month, or worrying that our children will never be able to afford their own homes.

I am writing to ask you: please support Shelter’s call to end the housing crisis.

There just aren’t enough affordable places to live any more in . For decades, governments have failed to build the homes we need. In fact, we are now building just half as many as we need every year.

This is having terrible consequences for people across the country – sky-high rents and house prices mean so many of us don’t have a safe, affordable place to call home. Ultimately, the lack of affordable homes leads to more people becoming homeless. In fact, there are now homeless households with children in .

It is possible to end the housing crisis – by building more affordable homes. Shelter have outlined the mix of affordable homes we need to build, and set out a comprehensive plan for how to do so, at thehomesweneed.org.uk.

As a prospective parliamentary candidate in , you are in a unique position to influence your party’s priorities.

Will you ask your party leader to prioritise the housing crisis and make sure the next government builds more affordable homes?

Please reply to my email and let me know what you plan to do about housing – this issue is very important to me, and to many others in .

Yours sincerely,

It’s time to do something about it.

Agree? Email your parliamentary candidates now and tell them to commit to building more homes.

Keep me updated on Shelter’s work.

Read more +

Dear Candidate,

My name is , and I want to see an end to the housing crisis.

The housing crisis affects so many of us, whether we’re stuck renting in terrible conditions, struggling to pay our rent or mortgage every month, or worrying that our children will never be able to afford their own homes.

I am writing to ask you: please support Shelter’s call to end the housing crisis.

There just aren’t enough affordable places to live any more in . For decades, governments have failed to build the homes we need. In fact, we are now building just half as many as we need every year.

This is having terrible consequences for people across the country – sky-high rents and house prices mean so many of us don’t have a safe, affordable place to call home. Ultimately, the lack of affordable homes leads to more people becoming homeless. In fact, there are now homeless households with children in .

It is possible to end the housing crisis – by building more affordable homes. Shelter have outlined the mix of affordable homes we need to build, and set out a comprehensive plan for how to do so, at thehomesweneed.org.uk.

As a prospective parliamentary candidate in , you are in a unique position to influence your party’s priorities.

Will you ask your party leader to prioritise the housing crisis and make sure the next government builds more affordable homes?

Please reply to my email and let me know what you plan to do about housing – this issue is very important to me, and to many others in .

Yours sincerely,

Thanks for telling politicians to build more homes – with enough of us speaking up, they’ll have to act.

Now it’s time to spread the word.

Did you know that families in are homeless, and of those have kids? See more on the effects of the housing crisis in your area.

families in are homeless according to @shelter. Help me do something about it.

Thanks for telling politicians to build more homes – with enough of us speaking up, they’ll have to act.

Now it’s time to spread the word.

Scary to see how bad the housing crisis is near us – what about where you live?

The housing crisis is getting too big to ignore – find out how bad it is in your area.